Kash Patel narrowly confirmed to lead FBI

Published February 20, 2025 2:28pm ET



The Senate voted 51-49 on Thursday to confirm President Donald Trump’s FBI director nominee, Kash Patel, installing a 44-year-old lawyer and vocal Trump loyalist at the helm of the nation’s top law enforcement agency.

All Democrats and two Republicans voted against Patel’s confirmation, a testament to the highly partisan nature of his nomination. He is expected to be sworn in quickly after the confirmation vote, followed by a public-facing Oval Office ceremony in the coming day, his spokeswoman said.

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